This grammar exercise tests your ability to use rather, would rather and rather than.
1He is ...............
Wrong!
With no adjective before the noun, use "rather a fool" after the verb.
2That was ...............
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
With an adjective before the noun, "rather a good idea" and "a rather good idea" are both possible.
3We ............... hoping he would leave soon.
Wrong!
Place "rather" after the auxiliary verb, so the correct order is "were rather".
4I would prefer to come on Tuesday ............... on Thursday.
Wrong!
Use "rather than" to contrast the less preferred day with the preferred one.
5I decided to phone rather than ...............
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
After "rather than", "write" and "writing" are both acceptable here.
6Would you rather ............... here or go home?
Wrong!
After "would rather", use the base form "stay".
7I would rather ............... something to eat.
Wrong!
After "would rather", use the base form "have".
8I would rather you ............... me alone.
Wrong!
For a present or future wish about another person, use the past form "left" after "would rather you".
9"Should I turn the heating on?" "I would rather you ..............."
Wrong!
For a present or future wish about another person, use "didn't" after "would rather you".
10It is important to find new markets rather than ............... new people.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
After "rather than", "hire" and "hiring" are both acceptable here.
11Rather than ............... the last of my cash on a meal, I chose to stay hungry.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
At the beginning of this sentence, "spending" and "spend" are both acceptable after "rather than".
12I would rather you ............... that. You upset her.
Wrong!
For a past regret about another person, use the past perfect form "hadn't said" after "would rather you".
Answers
- He is rather a fool
- That was rather a good idea / a rather good idea
- We were rather hoping he would leave soon.
- I would prefer to come on Tuesday rather than on Thursday.
- I decided to phone rather than write / writing
- Would you rather stay here or go home?
- I would rather have something to eat.
- I would rather you left me alone.
- “Should I turn the heating on?” “I would rather you didn’t“
- It is important to find new markets rather than hire / hiring new people.
- Rather than spending / spend the last of my cash on a meal, I chose to stay hungry.
- I would rather you hadn’t said that. You upset her.